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As college basketball programs across the country begin to make the final push for the NCAA's "big dance," millions of fans are taking advantage of the 24-hour sports news cycle to stay updated on all the scores that could affect their teams' chances of postseason play. When the tournament finally begins, these same fans will be looking to follow games through the streaming online video services offered by CBS, the NCAA's official network.

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There are many issues at the forefront of voters' minds as the 2008 presidential election grows nearer. Education, however, has not been one of them. But Encarna Rodriguez, Ph.D., assistant professor of education at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, believes it should be because of the impact on the future of our country.

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Randall Miller, Ph.D., political expert and commentator offers insights into the role Pennsylvania might play in the presidential election after the votes are tallied on Super Tuesday.

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Amidst the hectic scrambling for dinner reservations and artfully prepared floral decorations for Valentine's Day, it's unlikely that one may stop to think about who St. Valentine was or why his feast day is celebrated with red-heart gift cards and plush teddy bears.

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Whether it's out of frustration with the current administration or because they've embraced and identified with a candidate's platform, young people are voting in record numbers this primary season. With this early and significant turnout, candidates and political pundits want to know more about this demographic and their voting behavior before November's election day.

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Political candidates who use songs to appeal to the American public for their campaigns is a strategy that dates back to George Washington. The pros and cons of this approach are intriguing.

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Katherine A. S. Sibley, Ph.D., chair and professor of history at Saint Joseph's University and an expert in the role first ladies have played in the White House, comments on the new dynamics gender diversity brings to this history-making election.

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The adage that more is better is certainly true when it comes to Super Bowl advertisements. Companies are spending as much as $2.7 million for a 30-second television spot to capture the attention, and perhaps coax a chuckle out of the 90 million game watchers on Super Bowl Sunday. Advertisers are also supporting their television commercials with online spots in hopes of extending the experience for viewers.

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Saint Joseph's University finalized a formal partnership with neighboring Delaware County Community College, allowing students who meet the designated requirements to seamlessly transfer to SJU for select four-year degrees.

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No longer "corrupt and contented"? Noted political commentator Randall Miller, Ph.D., of Saint Joseph's University discusses the sweeping changes expected in Philadelphia with the inauguration of Mayor-elect Michael Nutter.

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With Oprah Winfrey's recent announcement that she will support Barack Obama, it would appear that it is open season for celebrity endorsements in the 2008 presidential election. But do celebrity campaigners make a difference for voters? New research suggests that while celebrity endorsements help a campaign earn visibility, their support yields little return in the voting booth.

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The quintessential holiday scene "“ if not children eagerly unwrapping presents from under the Christmas tree "“ normally involves a family gathered around a table covered with home-cooked food. The reality is that, for the rest of the year, families don't routinely convene during mealtimes.

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Whether your holiday tradition involves a buffet brunch or a sit-down dinner with seven fishes, abundant amounts of food will be featured. And with the cost of food outpacing the rate of inflation over the past year, entertaining your crowd will be pricey.

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It's well known that a primary vector of disease is a germ-laden hand. Mano to mano, much misery in the land of the adenovirus is spread from a handshake. So what can you do when a sniffling colleague heads over to greet you at a holiday party?

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While the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control recently announced that Internet bullying has increased by 50 percent, the reality is that Internet bullying is still relatively less common than other forms of bullying, according to Sally Black, Ph.D., an assistant professor of health services at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, who studies bullying. She cites name-calling, exclusion and physical abuse as more common forms.

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The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. "“ his name and personality instantly identify him as one of the world leaders of Civil Rights reform. His cultural legacy conjures many iconic American sights and sounds: images from the Montgomery bus boycott; 1963's March on Washington; the "I Have a Dream" and "Mountain Top" speeches; the tragic photos of his assassination in Memphis, and his funeral procession in Atlanta.

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Preparing for the holiday season is a marathon these days, with Americans testing their endurance beginning in November and crossing the finish line around mid-January. Given that most companies work in a global environment which operates 24/7, employees are challenged to find time to get everything accomplished.

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No matter our religious or cultural background, we have all felt pressured during the winter season to frame a picture-perfect holiday experience. Whether it is to serve a flawless Thanksgiving dinner, create a Martha Stewart-inspired holiday home or to give (or receive) a much-desired gift, many feel a stressful frenzy ascending as the leaves continue to fall and the temperature drops.

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For many holiday shoppers, waiting in line hours before malls open on Black Friday is a distant memory. In an age when online purchases prove to be a less stressful way to buy gifts for loved ones, many consumers are choosing to put off their shopping until Cyber Monday, the Monday immediately following Thanksgiving, when online retailers slash prices and offer special deals to kick off the holiday season.

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This holiday season consumers are thinking small. So small, in fact, that the space under the Christmas tree may appear a bit empty for some on Christmas morning. However, market researchers are seeing an ongoing trend of quality over quantity, and this holiday season looks to continue that trend.

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As the public flips its calendars from October to November, December remains only one thin calendar page away, which means movie studios begin rolling out their holiday releases within the next several weeks. The question of whether or not these new Yuletide pictures will ever match up to the classics of old remains to be seen, but some films have a better chance than others, based on a number of factors.

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It's Monday morning and you just woke up to a coughing, sneezing child burning with fever from the flu. In families with two working parents an important decision needs to be made: Who stays home? New research says that it's considered more socially acceptable for mom, rather than dad, to be absent from work.

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The next (and 14th) Democratic debate is scheduled for October 30 in Philadelphia, and is up against some stiff competition for viewers -- including top-rated network television shows and Mischief Night. Randall Miller, Saint Joseph's University historian and an expert in local and regional politics discusses issues that could attract Philadelphia viewers.

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How the youth of America will vote in the upcoming election and what they look for in a potential candidate is a vital question for those advising the candidates. Diane M. Phillips, Ph.D., chair of marketing at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, thinks that America's youth looks for genuineness in a candidate.

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The bursting of the proverbial real estate bubble coupled with a mortgage and credit crisis has many Americans murmuring "recession." Ben Liebman, Ph.D., an economist at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, says that despite the opinion of some Americans, we are not in a recession. He expects Philadelphia's debate viewers to be interested in what the candidates have to say about the economy.

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Issues of violence will be at the forefront of Philadelphia voters' minds when the Democratic candidates visit October 30. Saint Joseph's University expert in urban violence Maria Kefalas, Ph.D., offers insights on three candidate's stance on the issue.

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Philadelphians are famous for a certain 'attytood' about politicians; Saint Joseph's University historian Jeffrey Hyson, Ph.D., comments on Philadelphia's political blogs and what the Democratic debaters might experience from the City of Brotherly Love for the next face off, hosted by MSNBC on October 30.

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Hillary Clinton's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination certainly has Americans and the world talking. Her historic move also speaks volumes about the ever-growing role of women in politics. As a former First Lady, does Clinton have some advantages? One Saint Joseph's University historian says yes.

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2007 has been a big year for removal of protected animals from the endangered species list. Three species native to North America that were among the first to be listed after the passage of the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 have been recovered and no longer need protection. In February, Canis lupus was delisted in certain areas of its range; in March, Ursus arctos horribilis was delisted; in July Haliaeetus leucocephalus was delisted, making headlines.

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At Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Joseph Cifelli, Ed.D., assistant professor of science education, recently surveyed his undergraduate students about their preferences in Halloween treats. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups was the hands down most popular choice, followed by Snickers, Swedish Fish, Twix and Skittles. "It's clear that our students reflect the national consumer trend and candy is still the number one Halloween treat," says Dr. Cifelli.

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The first Monday in October means it's back to work for the highest justices of the land, and the U. S. Supreme Court has already accepted 43 cases for the current term. While the justices are deliberating about the right to bear arms, employment discrimination and money laundering proceeds, one of the issues they may not be discussing "“ at least publicly "“ is the wisdom of fellow justice Clarence Thomas writing in his memoir about a chapter of his life that figured ignominiously in the history of Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

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Once upon a time, bored students in classrooms distracted themselves with note-passing and whispering. Thanks to increasing wireless capabilities and the expanse of cell phone usage, however, today's students can cure their boredom with text messaging and recreationally surfing the Internet, providing an infinite amount of material from which to distract themselves from their classroom work.

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Burger King's expansion of their menu to include healthier food items arrives on the heels of an L.A. City Councilman's proposed two-year moratorium on fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles. While it's great that fast food retailers are providing healthier food options, Nancy Childs, professor of food marketing at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, says that they aren't providing them in an afforable way.

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Children obtain about one-third or more of their daily energy requirement from their school meals, and they should expend about 50 percent of their daily energy expenditure while at school. So how's your child's school doing?

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Mark your calendar for September 9. That's the day when customers nationwide will flock to their local Kohl's department store to buy clothing, shoes and accessories by"” Vera Wang? Consumer expert Michael Solomon, Ph.D., sees this as a trend which reflects the blurring of the line between wealthy customers and those on a budget.

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As the long, lazy days of summer come to an end, kids will complain about earlier bedtimes in addition to going back to school. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is urging parents to begin gradually changing kids' sleep patterns and easing them into school year bedtimes.

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Office workers are well aware that gossip is an inevitable reality of the workplace. "She did what?" "He said that to the CEO?" While some gossip is relatively harmless, other forms can be damaging to the target and even result in a criminal complaint.

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As kids make their way back to school for a new year, incidents of bullying will inevitably arise. Whether you're the new kid at school or a past victim, there are many steps that can be taken to avoid or stop bullying, says Sally Black, Ph.D., an assistant professor of health services at Saint Joseph's University.

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The massive recall of over 9 million children's toys has parents and children equally angry and demanding an explanation. Like the mischievous character Swiper, from the popular children's show Dora the Explorer, parents around the country are swiping recalled toys from their children's toy boxes as they sleep. Saint Joseph's University Professor Nancy Childs, Ph.D. explains why.

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Much attention has been given recently to "helicopter parents" so named because of their tendency to hover overhead of their children. Parents often take exception to that characterization. "When I hear that term, I resent that it's used to describe our generation," commented one parent during freshman orientation at Saint Joseph's University this summer.

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As fall approaches, families nationwide are preparing to send their children off to college, some for the first time. Video games, mini fridges and televisions are on most students' shopping lists, as parents browse for bed sheets, alarm clocks, and textbooks. But one of the smallest items that you may pack could be the most useful "”or harmful"” to your college student.

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The exploding cost of healthcare in the United States has many Americans traveling overseas for treatment. With the aid of the Internet, patients can find international providers who will administer the healthcare they need at a fraction of the cost. Medical tourism, as this trend is called, has the potential to dramatically impact the economies of developing countries and has serious implications for healthcare around the globe.

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China's reputation is buckling under news of food and product recalls. The recent discovery of high levels of chemicals found in frozen fish and pet food exports exposes a flawed regulatory system in the country.

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The release of Apple's new iPhone, the summer's must-have gadget that combines the features of a video iPod with a Web-capable camera phone, has technology geeks and seekers of the newest status symbol vying to be the first on the block to have one. But is it a good idea to hold off a little while before making this big purchase and committing to a mandatory two-year service plan?

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GlaxoSmithKline's new diet drug, Alli, hit shelves nationwide last month. As the first FDA-approved over-the-counter weight loss pill, Alli is receiving a lot of attention.

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The Fourth of July, Labor Day, New Year's Eve, and Memorial Day. Other than time off from work and a reason to get together with friends and family, what do these holidays often have in common? The oohs and awe of fireworks. From spectacular communal displays to backyard sparklers twirled in the summer night by enchanted children, Americans love an excuse to enjoy the familiar ritual of gunpowder and pyro.

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Just because schools have let out for the summer doesn't mean children escape being bullied. According to Sally Black, Ph.D., assistant professor of interdisciplinary health services at Saint Joseph's University, "Children tend to take bullying to summer camps, which are really just extensions of the classroom."

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Shark evolution expert Eileen Grogan, Ph.D., discusses recent parthenogenesis findings in female sharks in captivity. The Saint Joseph's University biologist said this mode of reproduction could have significant impact on small, isolated populations. She also gives this summer's ocean recreational enthusiasts advice on shark safety.

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If you're sitting underneath a tree and a branch falls on your head, do you burn the tree? Most people wouldn't take the time to ponder this question, but for those involved in the criminal prosecution of white-collar crime, it's the critical argument.

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For many Philadelphians, summer brings one mandatory destination to mind: the Jersey Shore. And while the lure of sand, surf, and boardwalk pizza joints is one that's hard to deny, Saint Joseph's University History Professor Jeffrey Hyson, Ph.D., recommends adding another stop to your summer tour: the Philadelphia Zoo.